"Katana size iron slightly oval plate with rounded rim showing some iron bones (see images below). The web in sukashi with design of four bands of clouds, two at the top of the seppadai, and two at the bottom of the seppadai.Signed: 'Tosa Kuni Ju', on the right side of the seppadai, and 'Myochin Ki Toshio', on the left side of the seppadai. Recorded as H 10535.0.This artist worked ca. 1825 and is said to have lived to the age of 80. Much of his work is in the style of either the Tosa Akasaka or Tosa Higo schools. This example is in his own style and not that of another school." (Haynes)

"Toshio was a retainer of the Tosa daimyo who was at this time Yamanouchi Toyonobu (1827-1872), more commonly known as Yodo. It is interesting to note that Akiyama Kyusaku was also a retainer of the Yamanouchi at this same time and though he does not mention it, he may have known this artist. He certainly knew of him. A very fine classic example of the work of this artist and his school." (Haynes)

7.8cm x 8.1cm x 0.65cm

YAMANOUCHI. Daimyo family, descended from Fujiwara Hidesato.-YODO (His real name was Toyonobu). He took a leading part in the Imperial Restoration. He was the first, who on the advice of Goto Shojiro, wrote to the Shogun asking him to remit the government of the country to the Emperor. (Papinot)

From 'TSUBA GEIJUTSU-KO' of Dr. Torigoye.Tosa is famous for the Tosa Myochin school. They were a distant branch of the main line of the Myochin family. They worked for the most part in Akasaka style since the lord of the area preferred the tsuba style of that school.A group of the Tosa Myochin smiths went to Edo to study with the Akasaka masters Tadatoki and Tadanori in the late Edo age. It was the lord of Tosa, Yamanouchi, who inspired the Tosa school masters to work in Akasaka style. The important artists of this school are: TOSHIO, Munenaga, and Munehide.